JULY 2011 - Stoke-on-Trent City Council

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6 Our City <strong>JULY</strong> <strong>2011</strong>Paul Hackney withhis book Growing BarnOwls in My Garden.Love affair with barn owls isa publishing hoot for PaulA WORD to the wise... if you spota barn owl in North Staffordshireit’s probably due to the dedicatedefforts of Paul Hackney. Paul isthe Assistant Director of LegalServices, heading up the citycouncil’s legal services team.Away from his eyrie in the CivicCentre, the legal eagle becamemore of a mother hen as he keptbreeding pairs of barn owls incaptivity in order to release theiroffspring into the wild.Now Paul has burst into print torecount how his conservationefforts helped to re-stock the localenvironment with around 250 ofthe magnificent creatures thatwere once close to extinction inthis part of the world.The title of his colour illustratedtome – Growing Barn Owls In MyGarden – nicely sums up Paul’swildlife crusade during which heset up ideal barn owl breedingfacilities in the garden of hishome. The book includes thephoto, below right, firstseen in City News –forerunner of Our City –15 years ago showingPaul with a tame femalebarn owl that becamehis close companion.“I’ve always beenkeenly interested innatural history. It’s thanksto some naturalists inthe Lake District where Icome from, that I gotinvolved in efforts tore-stock the barn owlpopulation, and it justsnowballed,” recalledPaul.“Apart from mytame owl, I could notallow myself to becomeattached to the birdsbecause they had to bereleased. However, I stillmonitor the release sites and itgives me great pleasure to seewild barn owls still in the area upto 10 generations later.”Paul wrote the book over afour-year period in betweencommitments of work and raisinga family. As the city’s ReturningOfficer he is a familiar face on TVas the man who announces theresults at local and generalelection counts.Now the city’s expert on barnowls is planning another swoopon the literary world. Paul haspenned the first few words of hissecond book he describes as a“prequel” about his passion fornature before the owls took overhis life – and his garden.● Growing Barn Owls In MyGarden, by Paul Hackney,published by WhittlesPublishing £16.99. Availablefrom good bookshops andonline from Amazon orwhittlespublishing.comResidents can becomea councillor for a dayRESIDENTS can playthe role of a citycouncillor to learnhow important decisionsare made in <strong>Stoke</strong>-on-Trentand how the public caninfluence them.Fascinating sessions on how thecouncil works are encouragingresidents to get involved inimproving their neighbourhoodsand shaping <strong>Stoke</strong>-on-Trent'sfuture.The free events, entitled ‘Whomakes the big decisions?’, aim toincrease awareness amongresidents and community groupsof how the council goes about itsbusiness, and how the public caninfluence it.Residents will learn more aboutthe role of the Cabinet and othercouncillors, including how thepublic are informed about whatdecisions the Cabinet will make,petitions and consultation.After being given informationon the workings of the council,people who attend practice beingeither a cabinet member whosejob is to make big decisions, or acouncillor who is part of theoverview and scrutiny process,who must ask questions toexplore whether those decisionsare right.The practical, role-playinghour-and-a-half sessions are basedon one of the actual big decisionsthe Cabinet needs to make.The initiative is run by theauthority's Overview and ScrutinyTeam, which also supportscouncillors who monitor andchallenge what the council does,New committees now in businessSTOKE-on-Trent’s new scrutiny committees have started meeting,and agendas are being posted on the city council's website atstoke.gov.ukChairs of the committees are Councillor Bagh Ali (Adults andNeighbourhoods including Statutory Health), Councillor AndyLilley (Business Services), Councillor Dave Conway (Children andYoung People) and Councillor Matt Wilcox (City Renewal).Please check the current topics pages or updates on newreviews and ways to get involved log onto stoke.gov.uk/scrutinyor call 232956.HEATEDDEBATE...Overview and ScrutinyManager John Ross andsecretary Tracy Robertsact out the role of citycouncillors discussinga big decision in thecouncil chamber.to improve services and makesure they respond to customers’needs.For a long time the team hasurged residents to get involved incouncil business by giving theirviews on consultation exercises orreporting any issues or concernsto their ward councillors.Now it is hoped the ‘Whomakes the big decisions?’ sessionswill encourage more and morepeople to take part.Overview and ScrutinyManager John Ross said: “Theyreally are fascinating sessions andthe people who take part leavewith a clearer understanding ofhow the council works.“Often we are able to answerbasic, but very importantquestions and misconceptions.“For instance, we aresometimes asked if residents canask their local councillor for helpif they didn’t vote for them, and,of course, the answer is yes.“Some people also say they feeldecisions at the council are madein secret and without notice. Wesignpost them to the Cabinet’sForward Plan, which is publishedon the council’s website inadvance.“It goes to show that you cannever take anything for granted,and that people who understandthe council’s processes are morelikely to get involved.”
<strong>JULY</strong> <strong>2011</strong> Our City 7Fraud team uncover 1,600 peoplemaking false claimsFRAUD investigatorsat <strong>Stoke</strong>-on-TrentCity Council havetracked down 1,616 peopleresponsible for false claimsworth £1.2 million over thepast 16 months.And a special project set up inMay 2008 to tackle so-called“living together fraud” is nowbeginning to bear fruit with 46prosecutions and the discovery ofoverpayments of £1.5 million.One individual had falselyclaimed £63,626.Housing and Council TaxBenefit fraud since April 2010alone has cost the council£712,181. More than 190 peoplefaced sanctions and cautionswhile 78 were prosecuted. Nineof them went to prison and afurther 13 received suspended jailsentences.OverpaymentsAnother 1,421 people claimed£519,415 in Single PersonDiscount from Council Tax whichthey were not entitled to. Thesecases were not treated as fraudbut as errors.Investigators turned thespotlight on housing tenancyfraud from March this year. Theteam is uncovering cases ofproperties lying empty whenthere are thousands on thecouncil’s waiting list who couldbe homed. There are also cases oftenants illegally sub-letting theircouncil homes for profit.There are 55 on-goinginvestigations in this area and sixproperties have been recovered.Benefits overpayments of£17,000 have been identified aslegal proceedings are considered.Direct payments have also beeninvestigated and a case uncoveredin which a man continued tosubmit expenses claims and receiveDon’t miss out on free early education placesPARENTS across <strong>Stoke</strong>-on-Trent arebeing reminded that free part-time earlyeducation places are available to allchildren before they go to school.The places beginning in the term aftera child’s third birthday are provided in avariety of voluntary, independent andprivate childcare settings.Full-time nursery provision meanwhileis provided by the city council at most ofits primary schools with applications forplaces for children born between 1September, 2008, and 31 August, 2009,being taken from October this year tostart nursery in September next year.Parents can register their interest in anursery place at their preferred school,which will then send out an informationpack at the appropriate time. Onlineapplications can also be made from1 October through the council’s websiteat stoke.gov.ukRowena Watkins, the council’s SchoolOrganisation Manager, said:“Parentspayments for the care of histerminally ill father even though hehad died some months before.Corporate Fraud Manager PaulBicknell said: “My team of 10 isdoing a fantastic job ofidentifying the cheats andbringing them to justice. Benefitfraud affects us all because thecon artists are taking money weas a council could be spendingelsewhere – so we have a zerotolerance policy. Our message tothe fraudsters is clear.“We will find you and when wedo, we will prosecute you andbring the full weight of the law tobear, which may result inprosecution and even a prisonsentence.need to be aware that as nurseryeducation is not compulsory, not allNURSERY FUN:applications will result in a place infour-year-oldone of our nursery classes.Freya Cope and her“So it’s a good idea to check themum Kath in thefree part-time places also availableCrescent pre-schooland contact the Family Educationnursery, Meir.Service for more information.“Reception class admissions areentirely separate from nursery classadmissions so it’s worth remindingmums and dads that they will need tore-apply for a reception class place.Attending a nursery class won’tguarantee a place in reception.”● For more information about the freeEarly Education Entitlement and a list ofchildcare settings who deliver earlyeducation contact the Family EducationService on 0800 015 1120.For more information of how to makean application, families can also emailthe council’s admissions team onadmissions@stoke.gov.ukSHOP THE CHEATS:Someone in your neighbourhood could be falsely claimingbenefits and discounts to which they are not entitled.“We can’t catch people on ourown so we’d encourage anyonewho has information about afraudster to get in touch with us.”To report benefit fraudsimply call the hotline at<strong>Stoke</strong>-on-Trent City Councilon 01782 236800 or emailfraud@stoke.gov.ukChance forthe publicto inspectaccountsRESIDENTS are being offeredthe chance to inspect thecouncil’s accounts as part of anongoing commitment toincrease transparency.The period of publicinspection is arranged on anannual basis and lasts for 20working days. This year itbegan on Monday, 4 July andwill continue until Friday, 29July.Individual inspections canbe arranged by calling thecouncil’s financial service teamto book a date and time.Councillor Sarah Hill, CabinetMember for Finance, said:“Weare committed to increasingtransparency at the counciland we have already beenpublishing items of spend over£500 on our website sinceJanuary this year.“I would encourage anyperson who has a questionabout our accounts to contactPeter Bates, Assistant DirectorFinancial Services on 232736to arrange their individualinspection.“It really is a valuable wayfor people to question orunderstand better theworkings of the council andour accounts.”PUBLIC NOTICESTOKE-ON-TRENT CITYCOUNCILNOTICE OF NON-STATUTORYPUBLIC INQUIRY SECTION 15 OFTHE COMMONS ACT 2006Application to register land as a new Town orVillage Green in respect of:–• Land known as part of Park Hall CountryPark and Golf Course, Hulme Road, Park Hall,<strong>Stoke</strong>-on-Trent• Land off Anchor Road, Adderley Green,<strong>Stoke</strong>-on-TrentNOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an Inspector hasbeen appointed by the Commons RegistrationAuthority for <strong>Stoke</strong>-on-Trent to hold a nonstatutory Public Inquiry into the followingapplications made under section 15(1) of theCommons Act 2006. The Inspector will attend:-The Council Chamber,Civic Centre, Glebe Street,<strong>Stoke</strong>-on-Trent ST4 1HHOn Monday 8 August <strong>2011</strong> at10.30amTo hold a non-statutory public inquiry into theapplications.The inquiry for the application in respect ofLand off Anchor Road, Adderley Green isexpected to run for up to two days.The inquiry for the application in respect ofland known as part of Park Hall Country Parkand Golf Course, Hulme Road, Parkhall isexpected to run for up to three days.Any person wishing to view the documentsrelating to this application which the Applicantand Objector intends to rely upon may do soafter 29 July <strong>2011</strong> by appointment if theycontact Zoe Carr, Senior Legal Officer, CivicCentre, Glebe Street, <strong>Stoke</strong>-on-Trent ST4 1HH(Tel: 01782 233744).Civic CentreGlebe Street<strong>Stoke</strong>-on-TrentST4 1HHPaul HackneyAssistant Director (Legal Services)Dated: 15 July <strong>2011</strong>Business Services
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JULY 2011 - Stoke-on-Trent City Council

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